Christopher Cumberbatch is an acclaimed scenic artist and designer whose work spans film, television, theater, and fine art. A graduate of both Art and Design High School and the prestigious Parsons School of Design, Chris has been a proud member of the United Scenic Artists Local 829 for over two decades. He is also the founder of a successful decorative painting company known for its bespoke artistry.
Chris’s scenic expertise has shaped major productions, including serving as Charge Scenic Painter for the 2022 feature films The TV Glows and The Best Man: The Final Chapters. His recent television credits include Camera Scenic roles on Michael Che’s Comedy Show, Saturday Night Live, and Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens. Additional work includes Netflix’s Kevin James series The Crew and Fox’s Prodigal Son. His film credits also include iconic titles such as Spike Lee’s Malcolm X, Crooklyn, and A Bronx Tale directed by Robert De Niro, as well as Tonya Lewis Lee’s Monster.
In the theater world, Chris designed the set for the 2022 National Black Theatre production of Gong Lum’s Legacy and received multiple accolades for his work. His theatrical honors include six AUDELCO Awards for productions such as Looking for Leroy (2019), Harriet’s Return (2018), Black Wall Street (2015), and others produced by Nuyorican Poets Café, National Black Theatre, and New Federal Theatre.
Beyond the stage and screen, Chris is also a fine artist. He has exhibited extensively, with solo shows including his 2006 exhibition at the Skylight Gallery at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza and his 2013 exhibition at The Poet’s Den Theater and Gallery in New York. Most recently, his original paintings were featured at the 14th Caribbean Fine Art Barbados exhibitions in 2024 and 2025, and in Fall 2024’s “The Living Forest” at the Dwyer Cultural Center.
In 2020, he was the poster designer for the documentary Chicago: America’s Hidden War. In recognition of his lifelong contributions to the arts, Chris received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Black Theatre Festival in 2017. Chris is just getting started.
